At Julie Clark, Attorney At Law, we help parents sort out child custody and visitation after a divorce or separation. In a lot of cases, joint custody is the best option. This allows both parents to have a say in the important decisions relating to their child.

And most parents divide the time with the children in a visitation orders. While this is usually the best option for some children, it is not always the easiest. Dividing time can be hard for both the parents and the child, especially if the two parents have very different lifestyles. Often, parents feel as if this can cause a competition-type feeling, whether this feeling is justified or not. Children can be very transparent, so many parents find themselves feeling frustrated if their child is not having as much fun with them as they are with their other parent.

Children, as well as parents, can be difficult. Many children have fun by doing activities and going places. Unfortunately, many of these types of activities can be expensive or too time consuming. For your convenience, we often include lists of inexpensive ideas for you and your child for the next time that you have a day together. These activities are all located in the Hemet or Temecula area and are great options for a fun day in which you can spend quality time with your child – without breaking the bank!

The Western Science Center

Located in Hemet, California, the Western Science Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is eight dollars for adults, six dollars for children, and free for children under the age of four. The museum features many different permanent exhibits and always has a few travelling exhibits as well. One of the permanent exhibits includes “Harley Garbani — Dinosaur Hunter,” which focuses on a local fossil collector and his findings. This exhibit includes a full-sized replica of a tyrannosaurus rex skull as well as many other original and replica fossils.

Another exhibit at The Western Science Center is the “Life on Earth Timeline.” This is an open-air walkthrough exhibit that displays the earth’s eras through photos and models. Each section of time is displayed proportionally from the actual time that it took place. For example, if one era were double the length of another, it would take double the time to walk through as well.

The museum also has a section called “Postcards from the Past,” which showcases a typical 1880s home from the Diamond Valley. You can also check out the “Circular Theater,” which shows two short films regularly on its 270-degree screen.

Simpson Park

This park is located in the Santa Rosa Hills, overlooking the entire San Jacinto Valley. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter months and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the summer months. The park includes a vast amount of hiking trails—enough to spend the whole day on!

With the great views, Simpson Park is a great location for a picnic. You can inexpensively pack up some sandwiches and snacks and spend a few hours with your child admiring the view of the valley. This can be a great time to have one–on­–one conversation, which many parents find difficult now that everyone has tablets, smartphones, and video games. With the park’s elevation reaching 2,500 feet, there is an abundance of beauty for everyone to admire—and it’s all free!

Pennypickle’s Workshop

As a part of the Temecula Children’s museum, Pennypickle’s Workshop is a laboratory run by Professor Phineas T. Pennypickle, Ph.D, and his assistant, Beaker, a field mouse. This workshop is a 7,500 square foot space inside the museum, full of inventions and experiments.

At only five dollars per person, children and their parents can spend the day exploring the workshop. There are plenty of hands-on experiences for every type of child, and plenty of inventions for kids to play with and learn about. A great thing about Pennypickle’s Workshop is that it is a learning experience—and kids may not even realize that they are learning!

Sure, you could take pay twenty dollars for you and your child to go see the newest children’s movie (and that doesn’t include popcorn!), but what comes of that experience, other than an emptier wallet? At Pennypickle’s Workshop, you and your child can spend the day learning, having fun, and bonding—for only ten dollars!

The workshop is open Tuesday through Sunday and is broken up into different sessions, to assure that every child has an opportunity to experience every aspect of this area and learn everything that they can!

Citrus Water Park Corona

This water park is another free activity that you and your child can enjoy together during your visitation. This park includes a playground, baseball fields, and picnic tables. But the most popular part has to be the splash pad.

The splash pad is an area of fountains and sculptures that is a great place to cool off on a hot day, or even spend just watching your child play. It is open to everyone, and there are plenty of different fountains and play areas, so there is always bound to be something open. Citrus Water Park Corona is the perfect place to make a splash as a parent, especially with a child that you don’t get to see as often as you might like. It creates great opportunities to get out and get active with your child!

Bonding with your child during a specific time window can be difficult for any parent. A divorce is a trying time for everyone involved, so many parents find it important to make sure that the child continues to build a relationship with both parents.

At Julie Clark, Attorney At Law, a lot of our clients have experienced these struggles. This is why we help them by blogging about local activities that will help strengthen the bond you have with your children. By checking out these options, you and your child can spend a great day together, having fun and helping your relationship with your child grow. However, these are not the only options for inexpensive activities around California, so don’t be afraid to go out and find your own adventure, and tell us about it!

Chances are, if you’re a grandparent, your adult child has left his or her kid with you for the afternoon or the weekend when they need a break or schedules become hectic.Having the grandkids around is a joy, and getting the chance to see them grow up is a privilege.But, when something goes wrong within the family and grandparents suddenly see much less of their grandchild, do grandparents have a right to child custody or visitation?

The rising divorce rate has changed the traditional relationship between many grandparents and their grandchildren.A relationship that may have once consisted of bi-weekly or monthly visits can turn in to a relationship in which the grandparents are relied upon to care for children more often after a divorce. However, the opposite can also be true: after a split, grandparents may see less and less of their grandchildren, especially if the primary custodial parent isn’t their own child.

This is a perfect example of how a divorce really can affect the whole family.In many cases, after a divorce, grandparents have petitioned the court to obtain a regular visitation schedule with their grandchildren or even custody, if necessary.If you’ve found yourself in a family situation similar to this, it is important to know the basic rights of grandparents in family law.

Child custody is not a favorable process for most people to go through. Many times, because the situation can be so sticky, people feel as though it is not worth going through for the expected results, but here at Julie Clark, Attorney at Law, we strongly believe the custody agreement is well worth the process. Some people feel as though they can make an agreement with the other party without involving legal agreements, but we have found that this often times fails. Check out the infographic we have created showing why you should formalize a child custody agreement.

If you are in need of legal assistance, specifically regarding child custody, please contact Julie Clark, Attorney at Law. I will give my all to make this tough process as smooth as possible for you.

With the summer winding down, it can be difficult to find activities to do with your children. School is just around the corner and you may feel as if you have already exhausted all of your options to keep your children busy. Luckily, however, there are plenty of family-friendly events happening around the Hemet and Temecula area. Check out these fun events coming up!

Cornerstone Car Show

On September 26, Cornerstone Church is having their 12th annual car show, and it is fun for all ages! There are cars of all kinds, including antiques. This is a fun event for kids and adults of all ages, and can even be a chance to teach your kids about how cars have changed over the years. The event lasts from 9:00am to 2:00pm and is completely free for the community. Cars are not the only things included in the event; there are children’s areas and other fun activities. Parking is also free to the community. Come out and experience the festivities! Learn more at: http://www.cornerstonehemet.org/index.php/cornerstone-events.

Farmers’ Market at Promenade Mall

Every Wednesday from 9:00am – 1:00pm there is a Farmers’ Market at the Promenade Mall in Temecula! While this may not seem like the most exciting thing in the world, it has proven to be a great place to go as a family. The abundance of fresh produce and the friendly faces allows for a unique shopping experience that your children may have never experienced before. It will give you and your children a new appreciation for nature and the work that goes into harvesting the fruits and vegetables that we eat every day. For more information, visit http://myfarmersmarkets.blogspot.com/p/promenade-temecula.html.

Orange Empire Railway Museum

This railway museum in Perris, CA praises itself as a place that “brings California’s railway history to life”, and it does just that. This interactive center gives children a hands-on experience into the magical world of trains and railways. They often hold events for children and adults of all ages. This can be an educational experience, or you can take your child just to have fun and have a new experience! For more information, visit http://www.oerm.org/.

The events listed above are just three of a very long list of fun things and events to do with your child. Just because the summer is over doesn’t mean that you have to spend all day inside getting ready for school and being sad that the days at the pool are coming to an end. There are a lot of great places, activities, and events happening around the Hemet area that are great for the whole family—you just have to look in the right places!

At Julie Clark, Attorney at Law, we not only care about our clients, we care about the entire community. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

The Fourth of July festivities don’t kick off until 2 p.m., but the park opens at 8 a.m. if you’re looking to get an early start. For $5, your child will have unlimited access to the inflatable bounce area, games, prize wheel, and face painting in the Kids Fun Zone. The CRC pool will also be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entertainment will take place on the main stage from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can grab a bite to eat at the various food vendors around the park.

The Hemet and San Jacinto Valley area is a community that is committed to the well-being of our friends and neighbors.

Nothing proves that value more than the work done by the Valley Restart Shelter (VRS), improving the lives of those in need within our community.

The VRS is dedicated to helping people, homeless or struggling with other aspects of life, by giving them the services they need to become self-sufficient, contributing members of the community. The center, with the help of faith-based and community service groups, provides resources for essential needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.

Currently, VRS is 96 percent successful in helping people move from homelessness to a higher level. Some of the programs that are responsible for this success are:

Emergency Shelter

Emergency Food Boxes

A community evening meal

Intensive case management

Housing information and rental assistance

Referrals to other community resources such as the Department of Public Social Services, the Social Security Administration, Veterans Benefits, and health assistance

Bus Ticket Home program gives people who have found themselves homeless in Hemet to get a bus ticket home, where they might have a stronger base of emotional and financial support.

A divorce changes many aspects of a person’s life. Not only is your marriage ending, but you must also separate your finances, property, and in some cases, determine who will take the kids. To say this is a tough time is an understatement: a divorce is life changing.

If you sacrificed your job for a marriage, or became a stay at home parent while your spouse supported the family, what happens when your spouse is no longer there? When a marriage comes to an end and one household is split in to two, you’ll likely have to re-enter the workforce to support yourself and your children. Even if the court rules in favor of spousal support from your ex, it may not be enough to completely cover life expenses without a job to supplement those payments. But, the longer you’re out of the workforce, the harder it may become to get back in the game.

In the past, a highly educated woman was a recipe for divorce. Social tradition and stigma put women in a role of primary caregiver, not primary provider, and in marriages where the woman was more educated than her spouse, the marriage was much less likely to last.

Times have changed. Research reveals that heterosexual marriages in the United States are becoming less and less defined by traditional gender expectations. Married couples are embracing a new normal: as women’s education continues to outpace men’s, such marriages become more common and successful over time.

A study highlighted in USA Today explains it all. Release in the August issue of American Sociological Review, this study takes a look at marriages formed between 1950 and 2004. Starting in the 2000s, it became clear that in marriages with an educational difference, women typically have the edge — in 30 percent of marriages, the wife has more education.

In earlier eras, like the 70s, marriages in which wives were more educated were much less likely to survive. Theories suggest that less-educated men felt intimidated by their wives success. But, further evidence suggests hat these couples were more prone to a divorce for a plethora of other reasons.

This recent study shows that couples with highly educated women have had no higher divorce rates than other couples. In fact, there is a chance that these couples are even less likely to divorce.

These results are the latest proof that today’s married couples are throwing out the old script that “a man had to earn more than the woman, know more than the woman, be stronger, older, taller, and wiser than the woman,” according to a professor of history and family studies at Evergreen State College in Washington.

As women come closer to breaking through the “glass ceiling,” family dynamics will continue to change and evolve. The reason a couple chooses divorce depends completely on their unique situation and education level is only one factor. If you have questions about the divorce process, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced divorce lawyer in your area.

Summer might be over, but that doesn’t mean there are less fun activities to do with the kids in Hemet, California! If you’re in need of a weekend outing this September, there is plenty to do in our lively community — activities that adults and children will equally enjoy.

Since there are just so many, we’ve put together a list of some of the best with a little help from TripBuzz. Whether you’re looking for outdoor or indoor activities, you’ll find a great mix on this list and it’s all in or near Hemet.

Cornerstone Car Show – 11th Annual Car Show – Free: This weekend, the First Baptist Church of Hemet is hosting its Annual Car Show! There will be well over 100 fantastic antique cars you and your family can view for free. That’s right; for free. Take this time to teach your children a history lesson of what life was like when you were a kid! On the way to the car show, play the oldies station with your 1980s favorites. If you’re lucky, a car like your first car will even be on display! How fun will it be to share a piece of your past with your children.

First Baptist Church is located at the corner of Acacia and Girard in Hemet.

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens: This beautiful preservation protects the livelihood of our diverse desert species. One of the most popular features of this zoo and garden is the ‘Desert After Dark’ exhibit, which highlights the role of nocturnal predators in the desert ecosystem. This stop would be a fantastic learning experience for the whole family.

Western Science Center: The museum is home to an assortment of Native American artifacts and Ice Age fossils that were unearthed, not so far from home, at Diamond Valley Lake. In fact, the science center is home to the biggest mastodon found in the Western United States. Visit their website for more information.

Hemet Museum: If your kids love trains then this is the perfect place to visit. This museum is located in a revived train depot. Completely run by passionate volunteers, this museum features the heritage of Hemet and is filled with Native American artifacts, antique farming tools, and photos illustrating the history of our community.

Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre: This place of beautiful mountain views and acoustic sounds is home to many events in the Hemet area, the most well known is “Ramona,” the longest running outdoor drama plays in America. The Amphitheatre is continuously improving, thanks to the dedication of our wonderful community and is a fun place to explore with the family, have a picnic lunch, and enjoy the view. For more information about upcoming events, visit the website.

Whether you choose one of these four, or another awesome Hemet activity, everyone here at Julie Clark, Attorney at Law hopes you enjoy your time with the family!

Determining who gets custody of the kids after the divorce is one of the most challenging aspects of family law. It’s difficult for separating parents to make a fair decision about what’s best for the whole family, especially the kids. Along with the decision regarding who keeps the kids, a divorcing couple must confront child support.

Child support is the money that the secondary parent pays to the primary parent to assist with financial needs and the necessities of raising a child. But, conflict often arises with child support and exactly what the payments are supposed to cover.

According to an article from the Huffington Post, even the maximum child support doesn’t support the extra costs that some primary parents consider the essential to raising the kids. As a result, primary parents fight hard for more child support and it seems like the parent paying child support gets off with a better deal.

In order to avoid additional and unwanted conflict after the divorce is final, it is vital to plan for child support with your ex-spouse and what it will cover. If you’re the primary parent, be aware that in some cases you might have to pony up extra cash for your child’s extracurricular and enriching activities — legally, child support is only required for the essentials necessary to keep a child alive and educated.

When negotiating a divorce, it’s important to consider some of the “extras” that child support legally doesn’t cover but that increase a child’s opportunities tenfold. Discussing and planning with your spouse and their lawyer beforehand might enable a smoother process and reduce the chance of conflict after the divorce is over.

Below is a list of the most common “extra” expenses that child support doesn’t cover, but might be negotiated between parties:

For younger children:

Daycare

Afterschool care

Babysitters or full-time Nannies

For school-age children, extracurricular activities:

Registration, uniforms, and equipment fees of sports

Private lessons for instruments, voice, dance, tennis, etc.

Recital fees and costumes

Academic tutoring

Enrichment camps

High school and post-high school undertakings:

First car and car insurance

College funds

Wedding funds

For more information about expenses that are and are not covered by child support in the state of California, contact an experienced family law attorney near you. At Julie Clark, Attorney at Law we know how stressful determining child custody and support can be — don’t hesitate to reach out to us with questions or concerns regarding your divorce.